Red Rose starts the clock, counting down to midnight.

It had to happen, after four superb episodes, Red Rose does take a bit of a dip at its half way point. As their phones starts a mysterious countdown to midnight the gang have no idea what fate awaits them now that the app is behaving, as one character puts it, ‘like a f****d up Cinderella’.

Structurally of course this ought to be a knockout set-piece episode, but there are one too many ‘that-wouldn’t-happen’ moments, narrative contrivances that make it hard to suspend one’s disbelief. Having said that, this is such an engaging, well-made series, I was still completely gripped. You can forgive it a few lapses because the characterisations and dialogue are so delicious. As the group becomes more fearful, Taz tries to reassure them by declaring that, ‘The real world is scarier – nuclear weapons, viruses… Tories!’

After the dramatic midnight denouement, surely the mystery of Red Rose is solved, right? Well, we know that there are three more episodes, so it’s time to buckle down ready for its inevitable return. The action skips forward six weeks to results day which plays out truthfully, as each member of Wren’s peer group is pre-occupied with what the future holds for them, and how their achievements play against complex parental relationships. Anthony’s exchange with his alcoholic mother – and what he does next – is particularly affecting, neatly leading to a major plot development.

Meanwhile, Jaya is still determined to hack the Red Rose software. She’s found a site on the dark web, and all she needs is the password, but can she crack it before its malign presence strikes again?

Here, episode 6 sees a return to a satisfying fusion of elegant structuring and emotional plausibility, rendering me and my other half little more than a Gogglebox couple gawping at the telly exclaiming ‘Oh my God!’ and ‘Noooo!’ and ‘Behind yoooou!’

One lingering niggle is that I do find some of the music choices overly retro. These are tracks I would choose! Perhaps they’re cheaper to licence but every now and again the soundtrack makes a contemporary series feel a little dated.

Verdict: Red Rose is still addictive and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it negotiates any narrative sharks laterally, and doesn’t feel the need to start hurdling them. 8/10

Martin Jameson